: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce physical irritation
Examples of irritant in a Sentence
Noun
dust and other lung irritants
The delay was a minor irritant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Sometimes, other irritants can be fueling the constant mucus flow, says Dr. Van Groningen.
—Katie Bowles, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Certain types of mold spores are common triggers for allergic asthma attacks, including:
Alternaria
Aspergillus
Cladosporium
Penicillium
Mold can also be a respiratory irritant, as well as an allergen.6 Mold is found both indoors and outdoors.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritant
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Noun
With his fourth corner 3-pointer in as many tries — three of them launched in front of OKC’s meddling sideline — Watson spun around and trash-talked his irritants, gleefully backpedaling to the end of the floor that he’s actually meant to dominate.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2025
Sometimes, other irritants can be fueling the constant mucus flow, says Dr. Van Groningen.
—Katie Bowles, SELF, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Trump's strategy, however, is pretty much identical to Biden's working around the same assumption—with enough military pressure, the United States can either degrade the Houthis' military capacity to a minor irritant or coerce the group into stopping the attacks altogether.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
Certain types of mold spores are common triggers for allergic asthma attacks, including:
Alternaria
Aspergillus
Cladosporium
Penicillium
Mold can also be a respiratory irritant, as well as an allergen.6 Mold is found both indoors and outdoors.
—Nancy Lebrun, Verywell Health, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for irritant
Cite this Entry
“Irritant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/irritant. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt 
: tending to produce anger, annoyance, impatience, soreness, or inflammation
especially
: tending to produce physical irritation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates
Medical Definition
irritant
1 of 2 adjective
ir·ri·tant
ˈir-ə-tənt
: causing irritation
specifically
: tending to produce inflammation
irritant
2 of 2 noun
: something that irritates or excites
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